Leaderboard

I just got an e-mail advising me that American Airlines is selling tickets from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo for $574.00 - round trip - including all taxes. The taxes usually are around one hundred dollars, considering the Brazil exit tax. This means that the fare to the airline, round-trip, is only about $474. Can it be the fares to Brazil are cheap because the airlines got so many cancellations for Brazil and there are lots of empty seats? There has to be a reason for the fares to drop like they never before were. Here is a link to the latest fare discussed above - http://www.theflightdeal.com/2015/06/25/american-574-los-angeles-sao-paulo-brazil-roundtrip-including-all-taxes/?utm_source=The+Flight+Deal+Daily+DealsLetter&utm_campaign=495d0a17e0-The_Flight_Deal_Daily_Deals_Letter3_2_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_eb7686b6a9-495d0a17e0-174829325 -

The SCOTUS just declared marriage the law of the land for all its citizens. Gay marriage is now possible in all states.

I can't help but read some of the dissenting opinions, for no other purpose than to challenge myself in how I may see things and the opinions I have formed. In this case, specifically, the dissenting opinions hold very little challenge. For those who want to have a good head shaking, this may provide that: http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2015/06/26/3674385/dissent-marriage-equality/ Although the article says it is hysterical, I can't help but not find it all that funny in the way these guys think and what they understand.

Well, I guess I'm going to have to break my iron clad rule against giving money to pols I don't know personally and ship ole Hillary a few bucks. 5 to 4? And the consevatives, each and every one, making a point of individually denouncing Kennedy's opinion from the bench? Justice Ruth, bless her feisty little heart, just doesn't have 10 more years left in her.

Or for us with AA ExPlat status, system wide upgrades are free. I've used all mine going to Bangkok this year, but living in So.Florida it's only an 8 hour flight and easy enough to do in coach with exit row seats.

Is telephone the only contact? Their own website seems gone.

Not only the above, Brazil's Central Bank economists also predict worse inflation through the end of this year. What has happened to our wonderful Brazil? Even though the currency exchange rate has improved for foreigners, Brazil's out-of-control inflation has diminished much of our gain from the improved currency exchange rate. For reasons that are complex, but understandable, it is the garotos who keep their prices far less than Brazil's current inflation. Most other commodities in Brazil are increasing in price daily. Considering that foreigners are only a fraction of the clients of garotos, it is only a guess what the future brings to the sauna scene in Brazil. Logic tells us the saunas will continue. However, if business continues to drop off at the saunas and fewer clients can afford to pay for entrance and/or garotos, it is conceivable that the few remaining saunas in Brazil could slip into history like other formerly popular saunas we have seen come and go. I doubt that will happen, but it is possible. See this depressing article: http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-business/brazils-central-bank-increases-inflation-forecast-for-2015/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRioTimes+%28The+Rio+Times%29 -

It would be extremely naïve of me to suggest that they might decide on the question of law rather than politics, wouldn't it? Best regards, RA1